First bit of damage to the new boat - advice please! - Page 3

Jameslong · 19 August 2021, 18:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mattster

Tear Aid looks really interesting - thanks for the tip. Had issues with my Polymarine order (they were out of stock in the end, but website hadn't been updated), so now have an order coming in from somewhere else. I took the chance to add a pack of Tear Aid to the order.

I am getting a bit frustrated by our humidity (85+ all day today!), so wondering if a stop-gap solution of a bit of this Tear Aid would get me on the water again next week, and then sort a proper patch when I get some time coinciding with better conditions? I would have been out tomorrow if I was fixed up by now, but I'm not..

How fast is the leak. If it is very slow is it not possible to still use the boat while you are waiting and just take your pump with you and top up part way through your trip.

jeffstevens763@g · 19 August 2021, 18:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mattster

Tear Aid looks really interesting - thanks for the tip. Had issues with my Polymarine order (they were out of stock in the end, but website hadn't been updated), so now have an order coming in from somewhere else. I took the chance to add a pack of Tear Aid to the order.

I am getting a bit frustrated by our humidity (85+ all day today!), so wondering if a stop-gap solution of a bit of this Tear Aid would get me on the water again next week, and then sort a proper patch when I get some time coinciding with better conditions? I would have been out tomorrow if I was fixed up by now, but I'm not..

I had similar on my rib where the outer coating had been scuffled down to the cloth weave stuck some tear aid on it job done, the only thing I did wrong was to put it on on a cold day so when the sun shone I had a small bubble with air expansion but it lasts just make sure the patch is round not square, the good thing with it you can buy the one that can be applied underwater for a quick running repair

Mattster · 19 August 2021, 19:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jameslong

How fast is the leak. If it is very slow is it not possible to still use the boat while you are waiting and just take your pump with you and top up part way through your trip.

It is quite slow, and certainly without doing anything (sitting in the garden) there is still a fair bit of pressure after a couple of hours. I suppose my worry would be would banging about on the harbour cause more damage/cause it to deflate more quickly, but it is only the front section so probably not a major safety concern I suppose.

Mattster · 19 August 2021, 19:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffstevens763@g

I had similar on my rib where the outer coating had been scuffled down to the cloth weave stuck some tear aid on it job done, the only thing I did wrong was to put it on on a cold day so when the sun shone I had a small bubble with air expansion but it lasts just make sure the patch is round not square, the good thing with it you can buy the one that can be applied underwater for a quick running repair

TBH I bought it with the idea of running repairs in mind (not this fix) - thought it could be a very handy thing to have in the tool set on board, just in case. I do a fair bit of bass fishing and one of these days I'm sure a bass spike is going to go straight through a tube!

Fenlander · 19 August 2021, 19:22

Also one of the tube repairs like Sureseal would do as a temp.... I didn't think it was appropriate as part of a patched repair but to get you on the water it would go off enough overnight.

jeffstevens763@g · 19 August 2021, 20:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mattster

TBH I bought it with the idea of running repairs in mind (not this fix) - thought it could be a very handy thing to have in the tool set on board, just in case. I do a fair bit of bass fishing and one of these days I'm sure a bass spike is going to go straight through a tube!

The thing is any glue, sealant etc needs time and certain conditions for a good repair tear aid is instant a must in the boat for me

Mattster · 25 August 2021, 10:40

OK chaps looks like I might be on for today - first coming together of weather and time since the repair!

I have done what I can to clean up the fibres (not much better, but I don't want to dig around in the hole with a pair of scissors, unless I should?).

A quick question - I understand I want a minimum of about 1.5 inches around the damaged area. If I follow the previous advice in this thread and make a patch that butts up against the seam at the top and extends down, then 1.5 inches will leave me very close to the edge of the seam on the right of the pic. How far over do I need to extend, or indeed could I come short (say an inch from the damage) and have the patch ending on the seam about 1/2 inch in from the existing seam?

Hope that makes some sense, with the pic below. Or just make a round patch and slap it on without consideration of existing seams?

thanks again!

Mattster · 25 August 2021, 10:51

This is the idea - it ends up being quite a big patch if I cover the seam on the right by a reasonable distance. About 4" square (not that it is a square, of course..):

Fenlander · 25 August 2021, 11:29

Oh it's really personal... I'd still go with a modest round patch that honestly looks like a puncture repair patch... but I'd happily agree with anyone who thought working to a seam edge was their choice.

It's a shame the material colour isn't a better match.. did that come as part of the generic kit or in the boat's repair kit?

Mattster · 25 August 2021, 11:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fenlander

It's a shame the material colour isn't a better match.. did that come as part of the generic kit or in the boat's repair kit?

It's a piece of printer paper! Just want to finalise the shape before I cut into my patch..

So just a circle and don't worry about the seams? Easier option for sure, although I do worry a bit about lining up a shape with no straight edges for the final smooth down (any tips for this?). If circle, then still 1.5" from any damage would give about 4" diameter. Sound right?

Edit: as far as butting to the seam goes, although I know it was suggested by someone earlier in this thread, it will be quite (very) hard to really butt up sungly as the longitudinal seam starts to curve forward of the lateral seam. So I am leaning back towards the simple circle..

Fenlander · 25 August 2021, 13:03

>>>It's a piece of printer paper!

Ahh yes so I can see on the PC... looking on my small screen phone earlier I was a bit worried.

Re lining up a circle look again at my post #30 and the second image. The surrounding tape will give the guide for glue and patch application.

Mattster · 25 August 2021, 13:39

Thanks again Fenlander.

Humidity now at 52%, I was all set until I tried to move the rolled up boat into our kitchen. Unfortunately my wife wasn't able to lift the other end, so I rolled the boat onto some very thick cardboard to attempt a drag across the lawn - which was working until I felt a very sharp pain in my lower back. I am now more or less incapacitated, and the boat is rolled up in the middle of the lawn. Oh dear!

I only had my follow up appointment post back MRI on Monday last, which confirmed a slipped disc. Frankly whatever I've just done feels worse than the beginning of my whole back saga, hope I'm wrong..

Oldman2 · 25 August 2021, 14:25

My sympathy on your relapse but it sounds a bit like you were asking for trouble, do you not have a sack barrow or a healthy neigbour/relative that could help moving odd shaped heavy loads about?
Since falling down a flight of stairs in my 20's ive had a recurring slipped disc, but as I got older I tempered my need to do the "man thing" with sensibility and geared stuff in my life to manageable weights or mechanical assistance.
Again I'm sorry for your damaged back I hope it turns out to be a warning twinge not a full blown episode. I found swimming to really aid recovery btw.

Mattster · 25 August 2021, 14:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oldman2

My sympathy on your relapse but it sounds a bit like you were asking for trouble, do you not have a sack barrow or a healthy neigbour/relative that could help moving odd shaped heavy loads about?
Since falling down a flight of stairs in my 20's ive had a recurring slipped disc, but as I got older I tempered my need to do the "man thing" with sensibility and geared stuff in my life to manageable weights or mechanical assistance.
Again I'm sorry for your damaged back I hope it turns out to be a warning twinge not a full blown episode. I found swimming to really aid recovery btw.

Thanks Oldman. Yes, I do and I absolutely should not have attempted what I just did - I am a total idiot. I am sitting here in quite a bit of pain and can't even put my shoes on! Normally these things are even worse the day after, so let's hope not in this case.

I keep meaning to get back to the pool (was going fairly regularly before Covid) so when (not if, I hope!) this episode subsides I will make a point of it..

Fenlander · 25 August 2021, 14:55

It's a bit of a cliche but backs can be a pain. I think I'd not got as far as my 30s before ending up in front of the doc standing somewhat crooked.... I always pushed my luck lifting things with the over-confidence of youth.

Then not having learned my lesson in my 40s ended up crawling up our yard into the house because I was incapable of standing after trying to stop a heavy bit of equipment falling over.

That put a marker in the sand and I've taken more care since just having one or two 3-day periods of extra feeling/delicate movement a year but by and large do what I want. Oddly it's my neck now rather than back which has motivated this recent SIB outfit weight downshift.

So yep take care and as Oldman says... don't do it again... get the trolley out!

TmMorris · 25 August 2021, 15:22

Sympathies Matt. It's an absolute bugger. I've done the same trying to be clever by dragging something on a bit of carpet. I received a neck tackle on the rugby pitch and have tried to be careful ever since. It was one of the logics that led me to using the carry handles and ultimately opting for a trailer. Hope you recover swiftly.

Mattster · 25 August 2021, 19:07

Thanks for the sympathy chaps, appreciated. Hopefully it won't put me out for too long, and if I can get my neighbour to help get the boat into my kitchen then I might still be able to effect the repair this week - humidity looking good for the next few days.
Now I need to put my mind to a better way of getting boat from car to shed in back garden. I have been using a garden wagon type thing, which was OK, but I think something with a lower platform would be better. Not sure a sack barrow would work to hold the whole boat comfortably?

TmMorris · 26 August 2021, 07:48

I ended up making a sledge for mine because while a couple of ratchet straps would hold the boat to a sack barrow that I had, I could actually get the barrow in and out of the boot when loaded. Resting the handles on the tailgate, then lifting the wheeled end to then try and push everything into the boot just led to the handle bars digging in. Plus, the trolly being metal meant a notable risk of damage to my car.

In the end I cut a sheet of board to match the area of the boat bag base then fitted 4x2 runners which I then gave a nice shape to so that they would slide nicely through the car. I also fitted brackets to the underside so that I could use the boat wheels on it so as to save on kit.

If I were doing it again then instead of making the board the width of the boat bag which is narrower than it is tall then I'd make it wider as I now put the boat roll onto it in its flattest shape as this is simply more stable and easier.

Mattster · 26 August 2021, 08:48

I am thinking about something like that as well Tim, which would let me drag the boat (over grass, probably not concrete) and also make it easier to slide into the car - I go across the back seats (seats in normal position) and whilst it is not too bad once it is going, it could be better on some sort of sliding sled.
I think some sort of tough, flexible plastic that could more or less roll up the sides of the boat and be secured with straps across the top. Googling around for the right sort of plastic led me to links for deer sleds in the US, which they use for pulling deer that they have hunted out of the woods. Same principle. One of the companies mentions using hdpe, not sure if we can get the same thin/flexible variety over here tho? Plastic would certainly be good from a weight/slipperiness point of view. I have a flexible plastic mat underneath my chair at the moment, protecting the wooden floor - it is almost the right sort of size, but I don't know about durability. Any ideas on what plastic to look for, or what kind of product to repurpose?

TmMorris · 26 August 2021, 09:07

I'm a fan of phenolic plywood. Especially as you can often source IG offcuts on eBay. I think the key is to chose the right material based on ow you want to get the pack into the car and where you think you'll need to move it.

For me the board approach seems best as there is no flex for hoisting into the boot, camping trailer or lowering onto the tow rack but I can also then push or pull it over any kind of flat surface.

I wouldn't be able to get my boat onto the back seats of any of my cars as their doors either don't exist or don't open wide enough. It has to go in the boot.